Robertson on a talent search

SLIGO ROVERS IRISH DEFENCE FORCES 5 0

SLIGO Rovers manager Dave Robertson insists the Bit o’Red must be brave in their search for the last couple of pieces of the puzzle.

With the beginning of the 2017 SSE Airtricity League season creeping ever closer, Robertson says there are just a couple of bits to be done to finalise the squad. Rovers were convincing and comfortable against the Irish Defence Forces on Wednesday night, and the Rovers boss says fine- tuning is his main focus. We’re fine- tuning a few areas. Without going into it in too much depth and giving away the tactical elements of what we’re doing, there’s still a few tactical changes we have to make in terms of the timing of our movements which is the real fine- tuning bits,” he said following Wednesday night’s victory.

“In terms of the balance of the group our discipline is excellent. I’m working constantly at this time. There will be a hell of a lot of phone calls being made now as the transfer window is starting to close and we’ll do our final little bits of business. We have been patient and we have to be patient to a degree, there has been a slight change in how the transfer window has worked this year with movements coming slightly later. That means the players are becoming available a bit later. I am a believer that fortune favours the brave. You have to be brave enough and sit on your hands rather than taking players for the sake of taking them. The right ones will come along, I really feel we’ll be much closer to that come the end of play next week.”

There were positive signs Wednesday night for Rovers fans, and Robertson wants his side to keep doing what they are doing.

“I am pleased with where we’re at. I suppose I’d be like any manager, you always want that little bit more and you’re always searching for perfection going into it. We need to make sure we contain our consistency.

“We’ve defended well as a group, we’re creating opportunities and scoring goals, as long as we can continue to do that when we start the season then it’s going to be exciting times for us.”

Rovers took the lead after 11 minutes thanks to a wonderful header from Raffaele Cretaro, before Chris Kenny double their lead just before half- time. KIeran Sadlier extended Rovers’ lead in the second half with his free- kick when Matty Stevens was fouled on the edge of the area. Peterborough loanee Stevens made it 4- 0 before a second from Kenny in the 91st minute made it 5- 0 to Rovers.

And Robertson said afterwards that he had plenty of positives to take from the fixture, even if Rovers were given a relatively easy ride.

“The clean sheet is equally as important as the five goals, it’s an opportunity to get minutes on the pitch now for all of our players. Also to include everybody in that including some of the young lads and give them their debut, so to speak, albeit not a competitive one but giving them the experience here at The Showgrounds. Some excellent goals, really positive from that point of view. We’re starting to gear up to the final stages now and we’ll have another tough physical test against Finn Harps. We feel that we’re edging closer to it day by day. We’re chomping at the bit to get started. We’re still working on a few things, don’t get me wrong. We’re not the finished article yet. “There’s some pleasing signs when I look at things a year down the line. We’re in a much better place than we were this time last year.”

The Rovers boss praised the performance of midfielder Chris Kenny, who certainly gave one of his better performances since joining from Wexford Youths. “I thought he was excellent tonight barring the absolute worldie of a save from their goalkeeper. “The header he took really well, his goal at the end of the second half he took really well.

“The volley that was saved he couldn’t have hit any better. He’s shown tonight every reason why we signed him.

“His energy in midfield, the way he broke play up, the way he tidied play up, the way he broke into the box at the right times and released himself with his energy levels to go and score goals. To get on the scoresheet twice tells a big story.”

Up next for Rovers is a meeting with Finn Harps today ( Valentine’s Day). Robertson feels that playing competitive games in pre- season is important preparation for the season ahead.

“Yeah Valentine’s Day as well, although I’m not sure there’s a lot of love lost between everybody. It’s a pre- season game and it will be a good fixture. It will give us an idea again of where we are at against opposition from the same league.

“I am a believer that pre- season, where possible, should be made as challenging as possible. You can be comfortable playing easy games week in and week out, and players and managers can get carried away with themselves.

“We’re making sure we’re challenging ourselves and trying to push on to find that 15- 20% on top of what we achieved last year.” All females will get free entry to The Showgrounds this evening as a gift from Sligo Rovers. Kick off is 7.45pm.

SLIGO ROVERS: Micheál Schlingermann ( Shaun Patton, 46), Tobi Adebayo- Rowling ( Jack Keaney, 80), Mick Leahy ( John Mahon, 66), Gary Boylan ( Kyle Callan- McFadden, 66), Regan Donelon ( Mark Hannon, 80), Chris Kenny, Craig Roddan, Daniel Kearns, Kieran Sadlier ( Mikey Place, 80), Raffaele Cretaro ( Liam Martin, 77), Jonah Ayunga ( Matty Stevens, 46).

IRISH DEFENCE FORCES: Stephen Whelan, Sean Guerins, David Stack, Keith Duffy, David Sweeney, Craig Shortt, Sean Gannon, Ricky Fox, Joseph Dillon, Derek Walsh, Aidan Friel. Jonah Ayunga in action for Sligo Rovers against the Irish Defence Forces in The Showgrounds. Pic: Donal Hackett.